BANQUET

BANQUET. The image of the messianic banquet was popular in Ugaritic and biblical literature till the 1st c., and was used by Jesus in parables and miracles to refer to the Kingdom of God. In Christian times it was incorporated into the literature of Kievan Rus’ (q.v.) through the portrait of the idealized Christian prince who provided food in abundance to his subjects. Notable among these were the feasts of Prince Vladimir (q.v.), who sent carts of food through Kiev for those physically prevented from attending. Entertainment provided by the prince was also included in the proceedings of the banquets, provision of which was elevated to the status of a Christian virtue in Slavic countries.